Word Origin & History

1620s, from Portuguese doudo "fool, simpleton," an insult applied by Portuguese sailors to the awkward bird (Didus ineptus) they found on Mauritius island. The last record of a living one is from 1681. Applied in English to stupid persons since 1886.

Example Sentences for dodos

At Alexandria, where they halted for supplies, the dodos closed in.

I was just thinking that these dodos are uncommonly poetical.

But of dead or wounded, of dodos or any other enemy there was no sign.

The dodos vanished from the skies, the fighting machines from the earth.

Of the tetrapteryxes or "dodos" as the Australian had called them, there was no sign.

Dodos father and Polly voted for this title, but they were over-ruled by the others.

Other Dodos would come and go as she had passed, as everything changed and gave way to the same renewals.

His companions, excepting Angela and Dodos mother, were out of all patience with him.

The considerate reader will not unnaturally ask, Where is now that last of Dodos?

The dodos seemed to have completely disappeared, even the scouting aviators, far ahead, reporting no sign of them.